Schaffter Inquiry: Evidence recorded behind closed doors

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Magistrate's Inquiry into the mysterious death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter took place at the official chamber of Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya on Tuesday (10).

A brother of the deceased provided evidence for 45 minutes behind closed doors.

As the recording of evidence took place inside the official chamber of the Colombo Additional Magistrate, journalists did not receive the opportunity to report on the proceedings of the case.

Further examination of evidence will take place on the 13th of January 2022.

Sri Lanka Police said that it has not informed the court or any other institution that they believe the death to be a suicide.

"We have not ruled out suicide. However, we have never told court or any other agency that this was a suicide," Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st on Monday (9).

On the 2nd of January, Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya permitted the Criminal Investigations Department to conduct DNA testing using the blood samples, and other body samples of the deceased businessman.

The CID was also granted permission to direct the aforementioned samples, as well as the evidence recovered from the scene to the Government Analyst for DNA testing.

What we know so far:

Schaffter was found strangled in his car at the Borella Public Cemetery on the afternoon of December 15th.

He died later that night after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the National Hospital.

Dinesh Schaffter was 51 years old at the time of his passing.

Investigations revealed that businessman Dinesh Schaffter was already brain-dead when he was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.

Reports produced by the Criminal Investigations Department noted that the businessman was already breathing his last en route to the hospital.

According to medical records, as soon as Dinesh Schaffter was brought to the hospital doctors made great attempts to revive his heart, however, those efforts failed.

However, the postmortem report provided to the CID revealed that Dinesh Schaffter died only by strangulation.

According to reports, Krish Perera, a director at one of Schaffter's companies, had taken the businessman in his car from the Public Cemetery to the hospital in Colombo.

Sri Lanka Police said that moments before Dinesh Schaffter died, he had ordered a snack from a restaurant located down Malalasekera Mawatha in Borella.

The postmortem had uncovered the contents of that meal.

However, the postmortem report in possession of the CID notes that Dinesh Schaffter had reached a brain-dead stage between 30 and 40 minutes after he left home that day.

Dinesh Schaffter's wife had told the Borella Police that her husband had left home at 1.55 in the afternoon.

If that time is accurate, Dinesh Schaffter was possibly dead by 2.35 in the afternoon, based on the reports.

However, Former Cricket Commentator Brian Thomas revealed that he received a WhatsApp message from Dinesh Schaffter between 2.42 PM & 2.43 PM.

This raises suspicions about whether businessman Dinesh Schaffter was murdered.

Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that detectives are investigating the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter as a homicide and are pursuing multiple leads.

If that time is accurate, Dinesh Schaffter was possibly dead by 2.35 in the afternoon, based on the reports.

Moreover, Former Cricket commentator Brian Thomas has revealed that at around 2:42 in the afternoon, he received a WhatsApp message from Dinesh Schaffter.

This message had read something similar to "I am waiting for you"

Former Cricket commentator Brian Thomas had responded that he did not understand what the message meant, and responded that there is no need to meet.

Former Cricket commentator Brian Thomas also revealed that at around 2:43 in the afternoon, he received another WhatsApp Message from Dinesh Schaffter, where the latter had said he deleted all messages as requested.

Brian Thomas had responded to this by Whatsapp, questioning when did he ask Dinesh Schaffter to do so.

According to the Criminal Investigations Department, Dinesh Schaffter was already at the Public Cemetery in Borella by 2:45 in the afternoon.

Former Cricket commentator Brian Thomas suspects that someone else had used Dinesh Schaffter's mobile phone to message him.

Brian Thomas had said that he used to associate Dinesh Schaffter closely at one time and was well aware of his command of English, adding that the style of messaging was different to what he was familiar with.

It was at around 3:30 in the afternoon that Krish Perera had come across an unconscious Dinesh Schaffter.

At 3:55 PM, Dinesh Schaffter was taken to the Colombo National Hospital in his own car and was admitted.

Until then, neither Sri Lanka Police nor Mrs. Schaffter was aware of what had happened to Dinesh Schaffter.

Detectives are also probing the telephone records of Brian Thomas, Mrs. Schaffter, and a Director of one of Schaffter's companies.

Sri Lanka Police is yet to name a suspect in the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter.